A clip circulating on social media shows McCaffrey going through a series of unconventional drills ahead of the team's offseason program, which begins next week. The video quickly gained traction, with fans noting the level of difficulty and athleticism required to complete the movements.
During an appearance on The Insiders with NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, McCaffrey explained the purpose of the eye-catching regimen.
"Those are called animal movements," McCaffrey shared. "I actually got these from a bunch of UFC fighters way back in the day, and it's a cool way to do a lot of strength through full range of motion and flexibility exercises to kind of prep your joints in weird angles that you're not used to doing. And so, those are really challenging, really fun."
He emphasized that the exercises go beyond traditional strength and conditioning.
"It's kind of taking the linear strength and conditioning aspect of training and putting it into more of a global athletic movement, learning how to fall, learning how to roll, using your body at different angles," McCaffrey added.
"And they get really challenging and really fun. There's a lot of people who I've learned them from, who do them a lot better than me, but I have a lot of fun doing it. So, yeah, that was part of it."
McCaffrey has consistently looked for ways to evolve his offseason training, a commitment that has helped him to continue playing at an elite level deep into his career. Now entering his ninth NFL season, the 49ers star continues to set the standard for preparation and performance—a role model for younger players and veterans alike.
After being limited to just four games during an injury-riddled 2024 season, McCaffrey bounced back in 2025. He totaled 2,126 scrimmage yards and 17 touchdowns, earning NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors and proving he remains one of the league's best offensive weapons.
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